Zoodochos Pigi (life-giving spring) Monastery
The monastery of Saint Irene was founded in 1780. At that time it was a nunnery, but in 1833 it was abandoned and gradually, the buildings around the church collapsed, although the church remained in good condition. In 2006, Captain Eleftherios Polemis bought the field which included the ruins of the monastery. He and his family renovated the buildings around the church and did maintenance work inside the church, remaining true to the previous architectural form. Nowadays, the monastery plays a big role in the community. It holds summer camps for children, many of whom are orphans. Furthermore, throughout the whole year it houses the following exhibitions:
History of writing (Kairis Collection)
Traditional musical instruments
Collection of stones, minerals & fossils (Spiros Mpellas collection)
Elli Mandaraka – Stamatiadou & Flora of Andros
Source : http://grecorama.com/en/the-monastery-of-saint-irene-andros/
Zoodochos Pigi (life-giving spring) Monastery
It is the largest monastery in Andros. Locals also call it “Agias” and its celebration day is the first Friday after Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday. The date of its construction remains unknown. According to the tradition was used as a school and became a monastery in 842. It hosts rare icons of the 14th and 16th century, a rich library with books and manuscripts, as well as a museum with holy vessels and vestments. There is also a small collection of prehistoric tools. The monastery is officially recorded for the first time in 1400, while the chapel contains an icon dated from 1325. In 1928 the monastery was converted into a convent.
Panachrantou Monastery
Panachrantou Monastery is located on the slope of Mount Gerakones and is the most beautiful Byzantine monastery of Andros. According to the tradition, it was built by the Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas (963-969), upon his return from the victorious campaign against the Arabs in Crete. The monastery houses the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, rendered by St Luke. This monastery also possesses the relic skull of St. Panteleimon, which was transferred there from Constantinople in 1705. In Panachrantou Monastery monk “Papoulakos” was imprisoned. The monastery, which was recently renovated, is celebrated on July 27th (St. Panteleimon’s day) and on August 15th. Abbot of the monastery is Father Evdokimos Fragoulakis, who serves there since 1957.
Agia Marina’s (St. Marina’s) Monastery
Agia Marina’s monastery is located north of Chora and was recently renovated. The monastery dates from 1325, when Agia Marina shows herself to an elder monk at Litres region and indicates him to find her icon in a slot of a rock… And so it happened. During the 16th century, the monastery is burned three times from the pirates, but monk Sofronios fully refurbishes it by selling his property in Peloponnese. He converted it to a convent, hosting up to 100 nuns. In 1833, 417 monasteries in Greece are closing by order, among which Agia Marina. Embirikos family bought the miraculous icon and transfers it to the Church of Virgin Mary in Chora. In 1975, Dorotheos, Metropolitan of Syros, asks Deacon Kyprianos Chimonas to restore the monastery and the latter follow his will. The monastery became widely known by the miraculous healing of a small child from Cyprus.
Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) Monastery
Agios Nikolaos monastery, with its an elaborate architectural structure, is perfectly maintained. According to tradition, the monastery was built during the 11th century, while in 1760 extensive repairs were made. The monastery is fortified with high walls and the katholikon is cross-in-square type, two-columned with narthex and a dome. There are many chapels inside the monastery. Here are kept the relic skull of Saint Nicholas of Vounenois, the jawbone of St. Kosmas Aitolos, part of the skull of St. Joseph of Arimathea and many other relics. The Monastery was annex of “Filiki Eteria” and served as a printing and bindery house, as well as “Krifo scholio” (Secret School) during the Turkish occupation, due to its outermost location. Monastery’s iconostasis is unique and holy water spouts from the altar. The monastery’s wooden screen is superb, while there are also traces of frescoes.
